News and Events: Bamboo Pioneers

In 1963, Jules Janssen achieved a Masters of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Delft University, with the main subject of structural design. From 1963-67, he was partner in an architect’s office, with major projects involving the structural design for a concert hall containing 3000 seats and a harbor shed of 7200 square meter (80,000 sq ft).

Professor Shuen-Chao Wu was born on March 2, 1927 at Chai-Yi, a city in southern Taiwan. Wu grew up near the forest train station, and frequently had the chance to see trains carrying huge logs. In his childhood, those scenes gave him a strange feeling and unforgettable deep image in his heart.

Masatoshi Watanabe graduated from the Kyoto College of Foreign Languages in 1955. He received a Doctorate degree from National Kyushu University. His thesis title, “Basic studies on the management of bamboo forests based on ecological characteristics.”

Bamboo Idealist Vinoo Kaley was born in Wardha on 30th June 1946. After many wanderings in as a Bhikshu of vernacular building wisdom, he started work at Wardha once again as architect, activist, manufacturer of lime, builder in mud and maverick lobbyist for cause of the Gandhian mode of building.

Any new innovative product particularly, an eco–friendly product, takes it own time to gain acceptability and in particular with government departments it is a time consuming process. But Sampuran Singh and his team never gave up and continued their sincere hard work and struggle to make this new bamboo based industry a success.

Today, Rajib Goswami’s unit – Rhino Bamboo Industry – has many innovative designs along with 150 standardized designs. The unit stands as a testimony to show that with proper channelized effort bamboo can turn out to be a very profitable and socially enhancing sector.

Koichiro Ueda was a well-known Japanese scholar recognized throughout the world as one of the leading authorities on bamboo. One of his most esteemed awards was the Order of the Sacred Treasure from the Emperor of Japan. He was professor at Kyoto Industrial College and president of the Japan Bamboo Industries Association.

Krit Samapuddhi was the former deputy director general of Thailand’s Royal Forest Department, and former managing director of Thailand’s Forest Industry Organization. He was instrumental in developing the forest village system.

Floyd Alonzo McClure was one of the world’s leading authorities on the bamboo plant. Born in Shelby County, Ohio, McClure went to China as a teacher in 1919 after completing his undergraduate work at Ohio State University. He stayed in China for 24 years, working most of the time as professor of economic botany at Lingnan University in Canton.